Nutrition to Grow On
An innovative curriculum for grades four through six that offers teachers a direct link between the garden and nutrition education.
Nine lessons are designed to teach children and their families about nutrition by relating each lesson to a garden activity. The curriculum uses the garden to integrate disciplines, including science, mathematics, language arts, history, environmental studies, nutrition, and health, while reinforcing some of the California academic content standards. School gardens are wonderful sources of food and beauty and outlets for physical activity; they can also help students discover fresh food and learn to make healthier food choices. Nutrition to Grow On taps into these instructional gardens to cultivate the students’ talents and skills while enriching their capacities for observation and thinking.
Publication by Section
Introduction (PDF; 3MB)
Lesson 1: Nutrition and Gardening (PDF; 5MB)
Lesson 2: Nutrients We Need (PDF; 4MB)
Lesson 3: MyPlate (PDF; 2MB)
Lesson 4: Food Math (PDF; 7MB)
Lesson 5: Food Labels (PDF; 6MB)
Lesson 6: Get Physically Active (PDF; 3MB)
Lesson 7: Goal Setting (PDF; 2MB)
Lesson 8: Consumerism (PDF; 2MB)
Lesson 9: Making Healthful Snacks (PDF; 6MB)
Appendices (PDF; 2MB)
Questions: Education and Nutrition Policy Unit | 800-952-5609
